Global sports has been brought to its knees due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The sport of badminton has also not been spared by this global pandemic which to date has infected over 3 million and resulted in over 200,000 deaths.
The outbreak has seen the world's sporting bodies, among them including the BWF and Badminton Asia, having to call off or reschedule their events this year.
With all these events shelved, the world's badminton stars have had to find ways to maintain their fitness and stay in shape, all while in lockdown mode. This is crucial as they need to be ready when the competition resumes.
Coaches from the Asian powerhouses, like China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong China had advised their players on what needs to be done, pending the resumption of full training.
Flipping through the various reports, it was discovered that India's reigning world champion and Rio Olympics silver medallist, P.V. Sindhu, was given a very strict physical conditioning programme by her trainer M.V. Srikanth.
In addition, she also had her own training sessions with her father P.V. Ramana, a former Asian Games medallist in volleyball.
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, also from India, took to wall practice and also had video sessions with coach P. Gopichand.
In Indonesia, Anthony Ginting and compatriot Jonatan Christie, the Jakarta Asian Games gold medallist, have been keeping fit by jogging and undergoing conditioning exercises.
"I am not letting the lockdown distract me. I have my timetable for my daily routine. Later, to relax, I watch a movie or play a video game," said Anthony, Jakarta Asian Games bronze medallist.
Meanwhile, Malaysian coaching director Wong Choong Hann said that special exercise programmes were drawn up for the players while they were at home. The sessions focussed on bodyweight workouts, footwork and others.
With the lockdown in some countries being eased, some players will be back in training very soon. Others however will have to wait longer before restrictions are lifted in their respective countries.
Until then, the players based at home will continue with their own conditioning and fitness regimes. It is hoped the Covid-19 situation improves in the coming months and the competition can resume.
